Miss. mayor enters plea in testing fraud case

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi mayor has pleaded not guilty to charges for his alleged role in a scheme run by a Memphis educator who helped teachers cheat on certification exams over a 15 year period.

Metcalfe Mayor Corey Holmes appeared Wednesday in federal court in Memphis, Tenn. He remains free on his own recognizance. No trial date has been set.

Holmes’ plea was first reported by WABG-TV in Greenville.

The indictment alleges Holmes paid Clarence Mumford in 2008 to have a ringer take three different exams — one each in Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee. The ringer had Holmes’ Social Security card and paid for the exam with Mumford’s credit card.

Holmes is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy and Social Security fraud.